Bronze medal in the World Water Polo Championships after catching up

National coach Evangelos Dodisis’ team beat Italy in the third-place play-off on Saturday 7-5 after trailing 4-1 (1-2, 1-2, 2-0, 3-1). Team Orange lost 13-12 to host country Hungary in the semi-finals https://www.trouw.nl/sport/waterpolosters-doelen-van-hongarije-en-missen-finale-wk~b7eab156/.

Dutch water polo players reached the 2015 World Cup Final, losing to the United States. Three years later they won the European title in Barcelona. Since then, water polo players at the World Cup and European Championships have always been out of medals. Led by new national coach Dodisis, successor to Arno Havinga – who left after the disappointing Olympics in Tokyo, Orange took the bronze in Budapest thanks to a great catch-up.

condolence final

Two days after the defeat to the Hungarian women, Doudesis advanced in the “Consolation Final” via Ilse Koolhaas. But Italy took the lead and advanced 4-1. Orange showed resilience and tied the score again at the end of the third quarter via Sabrina van der Sloot. In the final quarter, the Dutch water polo players won the bronze medal through goals from Simon van de Krats, Nina ten Brook and Brigitte Slicking. Goalkeeper Laura Arts, who conceded only one goal after the break, was named the best player of the match.

The American water polo players extended their world title by defeating Hungary 9-7 in the final (2-1, 2-2, 3-1, 2-3). Team USA has been unapproachable for years. The American women also won the 2015, 2017 and 2019 World Cups and Olympic gold in 2012, 2016 and last year in Tokyo.

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Water polo players lose to Hungary and miss the World Cup final

Dutch water polo players failed to reach the final of the World Championships in Budapest, but narrowly lost to Hungary.